On the north side of Recker Road in East Mesa, the present-day church of All Saints Roman Catholic Parish rises as the second house of worship built for a parish that has watched the desert neighborhoods around it grow for more than half a century. All Saints is a Roman Catholic community of the Diocese of Phoenix, pastored by Fr. Joevensie "Jovi" Balang, with weekend and daily Mass, a perpetual Eucharistic adoration chapel, a family-faith approach to religious education, and a wide network of ministries that reaches from the sanctuary to the food lines of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
A Half-Century on Recker Road
The story of All Saints begins in June 1972, when Father William McKay was named pastor of a new parish serving the east Mesa area. In September of that year Bishop McCarthy approved the name "All Saints," and the parish took shape as one of the founding faith communities of what would become a fast-growing corner of Maricopa County. The first Mass was celebrated in the original church in October 1974, and Bishop McCarthy formally dedicated and blessed the building in February 1975. McKay Hall and additional parking were added to the campus that same year.
Father McKay served as pastor until his retirement in 1995, when Father Robert J. Caruso was named the parish's second pastor. By the early 2000s the original sanctuary could no longer contain the worshiping community. In October 2003 the Diocese of Phoenix gave permission to build a larger church on the existing property, and a building project began the following October. Bishop Thomas Olmsted presided over the groundbreaking in November 2009. Construction was completed in March 2011. On Palm Sunday Father Caruso transferred the Eucharist to the new church, and the first Mass was celebrated there on Holy Thursday. The original church was demolished in May 2011, and Bishop Olmsted formally dedicated the new building in June 2011.
Two months later, in November 2011, Bishop Olmsted blessed the Adoration Chapel, and perpetual Eucharistic adoration was begun, a devotion that continues uninterrupted today. Father Caruso retired in July 2022 and Father Joevensie "Jovi" Balang, who had served at All Saints as parochial vicar since 2017, was appointed parochial administrator in 2023 and named pastor in 2024. Father Jovi was born in the Philippines on November 12, 1970, was ordained in 1995 with the Archdiocese of Caceres, was incardinated with the Diocese of Phoenix in 2022, and now guides the parish forward with the inspiration of St. Teresa of Calcutta: "We are not called simply to be successful, but rather to be faithful."
Mass Times and the Shape of the Week
Weekend Masses at All Saints follow a steady rhythm with the Saturday Vigil at 4:00 p.m. and three Sunday Masses at 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. Weekday Masses are offered Monday through Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and Monday through Friday at 6:30 p.m. The parish is part of the Diocese of Phoenix, which is one of the fastest-growing dioceses in the United States and includes Mohave, Coconino, Yavapai, and Maricopa Counties along with the Gila Indian Reservation, covering nearly 44,000 square miles and serving more than 1.7 million Catholics.
Live streams of Mass are available on the parish's YouTube channel, and the parish also broadcasts online Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays at 3 p.m. through its Facebook and YouTube accounts, allowing parishioners and visitors from afar to spend time in prayer with the Blessed Sacrament.
Confession Times: Five Opportunities Each Week
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered at All Saints five times a week. Saturday confessions run from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. On Tuesday, priests hear confessions immediately after the 8:30 a.m. Daily Mass. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday confessions are scheduled at 5:30 p.m. The parish frames the sacrament as a gift in which the faithful, through God's mercy, obtain pardon for offenses against Him, are reconciled with the Church, and are freed to become forgivers themselves.
The St. Francis of Assisi Adoration Chapel
Set on the north side of the church, the St. Francis of Assisi Adoration Chapel is the heart of perpetual adoration at All Saints. Members of the parish take shifts so that at least one person is in prayer before the Holy Eucharist at all times. The chapel is open 24 hours a day, with keycard access from 4:00 p.m. through 6:30 a.m. Scheduled adorers choose one hour a week to pray, and the chapel depends on a steady roster of volunteers. The parish livestreams online adoration on First Fridays at 3 p.m. and welcomes anyone who would like to learn more about the devotion to reach out at adoration@asccm.org.
Forming the Domestic Church
All Saints carries out a family-faith approach to religious education rooted in the Diocese of Phoenix's restored order for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation. Children baptized as infants typically complete a foundation year of formation before sacramental preparation, with First Reconciliation celebrated during the second grade and Confirmation and First Holy Communion together in the third grade. The parish believes, in its own words, that parents and guardians are to be equipped as the primary formators of the domestic church, and that the parish walks alongside the family.
Elementary Religious Education serves families with children in PreK through sixth grade. Sessions meet Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. or Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., with an additional PreK session on Wednesdays from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. The year runs from September through early May. A parent group meets at the same time as the children's classes, and parents and children come together monthly for Family Faith Nights.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based faith formation program for children from about age four, is offered in the All Saints atrium. The program uses handmade materials and Scripture to give young children space to encounter Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and to listen to the Holy Spirit. Registration for the 2026 to 2027 year is open, with fees of $60 per child, $100 for two children, and $120 for three or more children for Religious Education, and $100 per child for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Fee waivers and scholarships are available, and fees are waived for parish ministers.
Adults and older children who wish to enter the Catholic Church journey through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, called OCIA. The program serves those who are unbaptized, those baptized in another Christian tradition who wish to make a Profession of Faith and receive Confirmation and Eucharist, and Catholics who have not yet received Confirmation or Eucharist. Inquiry sessions are scheduled throughout the year, with formal Sunday morning sessions running from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Augustine Hall from fall through Easter Vigil. Adult education classes on varied topics are offered several times a year.
Spark and T.L.C.: Walking with the Young
Two youth groups anchor the parish's ministry with teens. Spark is the junior high school ministry for seventh and eighth graders, drawing on the EDGE curriculum. Spark meets Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the parish's regular schedule, where middle schoolers and youth leaders play games, hear talks, engage in small group discussions, and pray together. Teens in Love with Christ, T.L.C., is the senior high ministry for grades nine through twelve. T.L.C. meets every Sunday following the 11:00 a.m. Mass, from 12:15 to 2:00 p.m., exploring faith, prayer, spirituality, morality, community, and service, with retreats woven into the year.
For older youth who need to catch up on the Sacraments of Initiation, the parish offers Teen Sacramental Preparation. Sessions are held on Mondays (or Wednesdays, depending on the program page) from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., and participants are expected to also attend Spark or T.L.C. as part of their ongoing formation. Diana Rosales serves as the Youth and Young Adult Minister, and Shannon Brender coordinates the parish's Religious Education programs.
The Seven Sacraments at All Saints
All Saints celebrates and prepares parishioners for all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptisms are generally celebrated on the third weekend of each month following Mass. Parents are required to have completed a preparation process within the last two years, which includes an intake procedure, a video series, and a meeting with clergy. At least one Catholic godparent is required, ordinarily with a second Catholic godparent of the opposite sex; a Christian witness from another Christian community may also be included.
First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation are celebrated following the Diocese of Phoenix's restored order. Adults preparing for Confirmation begin their sessions in January each year. The Anointing of the Sick can be requested at any time through the parish office, with a priest responding after hours for emergencies. Engaged couples are asked to contact the parish at least nine months before their intended wedding; the Diocese of Phoenix uses a seven-step "Covenant of Love" process. Holy Orders are celebrated through the wider Church, with the parish encouraging any man discerning a vocation to explore the call.
Music and the Liturgical Life
The Music Ministry at All Saints leads worship at every Mass, with a vision of creating a positive, uplifting environment centered on Christ and rooted in prayer. The parish choir rehearses Monday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Children's Choir, founded in 2016, draws singers from kindergarten through eighth grade and sings monthly at Sunday Mass, with rehearsals on Mondays from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Handbell Choir, more than fifteen years old, plays three- to five-octave repertoire and welcomes players age fifteen and up at any skill level, rehearsing Mondays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. and ringing at Christmas, Easter, and selected Masses throughout the year. Daniel Torres serves as Director of Music, and Sheila Havrish is the parish Organist.
Around the music ministry, the liturgical life of the parish depends on a roster of lay volunteers. Altar Servers assist the priest and deacons in the sanctuary; candidates must have received Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation and are expected to serve at least twice a month. Lectors proclaim the Word of God. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion distribute the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass. Ushers and Greeters are ministers of hospitality, arriving at least thirty minutes before Mass to welcome and assist parishioners. Art and Environment volunteers redecorate the sanctuary for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time. Altar Linens volunteers launder and care for the linens used at each Mass. All adult volunteers must complete the Diocese of Phoenix Safe Environment Training, which includes a screening process, an interview, a code of ethics, a background check, and ongoing annual renewal.
Service and Outreach in the Valley
The service ministries at All Saints put the parish's faith into practice close to home. The Knights of Columbus Council 9485 serves the parish and wider community through charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism, raising funds through parish spaghetti dinners, a spring golf outing, monthly walnut and almond sales, Lenten soup suppers, and collections for pregnant women. All practicing Catholic men eighteen and older are invited to join.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society offers material and spiritual assistance to those in need. Members visit homes and arrange assistance by calling 480-985-7693, take up a monetary collection on the first Sunday of each month, and run a Thanksgiving food collection. Non-perishable food items may be left at the parish office, and arrangements for clothing, furniture, and large-item pickups can be made by calling 602-254-3338.
The Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Our Lady of the Desert No. 2164, brings together Catholic women eighteen and older under the motto "Unity and Charity," with a Junior Catholic Daughters program for girls ages six to seventeen. The Porters of St. Joseph is a volunteer apostolate of men who imitate St. Joseph as Protector of the Holy Church, Pillar of Families, and Terror of Demons, providing a safe environment for worship and forming a bond of Christian brotherhood. The Ministry of Care takes Communion to the homebound, to assisted living facilities, and to hospitals, visiting the sick, the grieving, the aged, and the dying. The Welcome Ministry staffs the Welcome Center after every weekend Mass to greet visitors, hand out registration forms, and answer questions, and joins the pastor and staff every three months to host a reception for new parishioners in St. Elizabeth Seton Hall.
Support for the Grieving and Struggling
The St. Dymphna Community Support Ministry reaches out to parishioners facing hardship. Bereavement Support meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the parish library in Vianney Hall, open to any adult who has experienced a loss, with no registration required. The parish also connects those in need with Catholic in Recovery, Sacred Sorrows, the St. Monica Project, and the Diocese of Phoenix Office of Mental Health Ministry, and offers a list of professional counseling resources. The parish resource guide lists agencies throughout the Valley that can assist with a wide range of needs.
Devotional and Spiritual Enrichment
A cluster of devotional ministries gives shape to the spiritual life of All Saints beyond Sunday Mass. The Cursillo movement offers an encounter with Christ through a three-day weekend built around piety, study, and action, beginning Thursday evening and ending after Sunday worship, with table-group discussion and daily Mass. The Missionary Families of Christ community, a Vatican-recognized lay Catholic organization that began in the Philippines in 1981 and now reaches more than thirty countries, builds Christ-centered families through household prayer gatherings, general prayer assemblies, a Christian Life Seminar, youth and singles ministries, and a Marriage Enrichment Retreat. Members include Kids, Youth, Singles, Couples, Handmaids, and Servants sections, each supporting the family renewal mission.
The Our Mother of Perpetual Help devotion gathers parishioners to celebrate Marian feast days, lead the monthly Novena Mass on the first Wednesday, and welcome the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the parish, with the Perpetual Help Novena, the First Saturday Devotion, and a Living Rosary among the practices promoted. The ministry meets on the last Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in St. Vianney Hall. Sisters in Christ invites women of all ages to walk together in fellowship through Scripture, prayer, and DVD series study, with no registration required. The Men's Ministry encourages and forms men to be bold servant leaders in their families, church, work, and community, with commitments to spiritual, moral, and ethical purity, vital relationships with other men, and faithful marriage.
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is pastored by Fr. Joevensie "Jovi" Balang and served by Fr. Rojo George as Parochial Vicar. Retired priests in residence include Fr. Robert J. Caruso, Fr. Gordon Doffing, and Msgr. Mark Duchaine. The diaconate includes Deacon Stephen Schmidt, Director of Family Faith Formation; Deacon Gene Messer, Marriage Preparation and Nullity Minister; Deacon James Carabajal; and Deacon Tom Ferreira (Retired). The parish staff includes Christine Gray, Director of Communications and Parish Engagement; Monica Horn, Director of Liturgy; Daniel Torres, Director of Music; Diana Rosales, Youth and Young Adult Minister; Shannon Brender, Coordinator of Religious Education; Karen Trojanowski, Secretary of Family Faith Formation; Annie Taylor, Administrative Assistant; Luis Enriquez, Facilities Manager; and Michael Ruiz, Custodian.
Visiting All Saints
All Saints welcomes visitors of every background. The parish is located at 1534 N Recker Road, Mesa, Arizona 85205, with the parish office open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.) and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The phone number is 480-985-7655. Ample parking is available in several lots, with handicapped spaces located around the church and buildings. The parish encourages families to participate in Mass together and offers Cry Rooms for those times when small children need a quiet space.
On the matter of dress, the parish simply asks that visitors wear clothes that reflect reverence for God and the dignity of the Catholic liturgy. In summer it is common to see people in sandals, shorts, and a shirt, though modest length is requested. Missals titled "Breaking Bread" are located in each pew to help with the order of the Mass, the postures, and the prayers, and ushers are happy to bring one if a pew is missing one. Visitors who are not Catholic are warmly welcomed but asked not to receive Communion; coming forward with arms crossed over the chest invites a special blessing from the priest. Visitors are not expected to place anything in the offering, and those who make All Saints their parish home can sign up for online giving through WeShare.
All Saints has a state-of-the-art sound system throughout the church, and the parish is exploring additional resources to integrate hearing aids with the system in the future. Newcomers are encouraged to register with the parish through the Parish Registration page, with the Welcome Ministry ready to greet them after any weekend Mass and the pastor and staff hosting a quarterly reception for new parishioners after the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass in St. Elizabeth Seton Hall.